Country music icon Johnny Cash died on Friday morning due to complications from diabetes, his manager said. Cash, 71, died at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, according to a statement from manager Lou Robin. "Johnny died due to complications from diabetes, which resulted in respiratory failure," Robin said.

Known as country music's "Man in Black," Cash was credited with being the inspiration for a generation of Nashville upstarts with songs like "Ring of Fire" and "I Walk the Line." Most recently, Cash was given the award for Best Cinematography in a Video at last month's MTV Video Music Awards for his video "Hurt." Cash had not been able to attend the MTV awards because he was in the hospital in Nashville with a stomach ailment. His wife, country star June Carter Cash (news), died in May after heart surgery.